January 5th

By Mutt Mulligan

Living landscapes: lessons learned from China

Have you ever thought of what your community or life would be like if it were void of living landscapes (trees, shrubs, plants, etc.)? The people of China are living the reality of that scary “what if” scenario.

During the 1960s, the Chinese government removed turfgrass and ornamental trees in an effort to rid the country of anything that represented “Western civilization.” Landscaped public areas were transformed into well-swept, bare-dirt ground.

But now the country – and more importantly its people – are paying the price. The removal of turfgrasses and trees resulted in major atmospheric pollution in the form of dust storms. Sadly, human diseases also increased as a result of disease-causing organisms being carried in the air.

Today, the Chinese government has enlisted experts to develop and implement an active program of revegetating barren open spaces with turfgrasses.

It’s a vivid reminder of the importance of living landscapes for the environment and for our health. Living landscapes lower heat in urban areas, reduce storm water runoff, absorb and clean rainwater, reduce soil erosion, rid the air of pollutants, generate oxygen and reduce carbon.

But you must have the right yard for your lifestyle and the right grasses and plants for your climate. Even in a drought, it’s possible to maintain living landscapes. Click here to learn more.